Trump’s endorsement power faces a key test in the South Carolina GOP primary
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
One week after President Donald Trump won a high-profile Republican primary, the president’s partisanship is facing another key test in the GOP presidential primary in South Carolina.
A week and a half ago, the president gave Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette is supported at the 11th hour as she wants to succeed Trump’s top partner, Gov. Term-limited Republican Henry McMaster.
Evette is facing a GOP primary against a number of top contenders. They are South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, and billionaire businessman Rom Reddy.
With no candidate expected to win 50% of the primary vote and a majority, the top two will advance to the Republican runoff on June 23.
DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY INFORMED WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB
Lt. Gov. of South Carolina Pamela Evette announces her bid for the Republican nomination for governor at The Smokestack in Judson Mill in South Carolina on July 14, 2025. (Joshua Boucher/National News Service/Tribune/Getty Images)
The president’s brute force was on display in last month’s GOP primaries, where candidates ousted incumbents in contests in Indiana, Louisiana, Kentucky and Texas that captured national attention.
But Trump’s last-minute endorsement of Republican Randy Feenstra of Iowa in the race to replace Gov. GOP retiree Kim Reynolds — who came out the same day to endorse Evette — wasn’t enough to propel the three-term congressman to victory.
Feenstra was partially divided by Zach Lahn, a businessman, farmer and political strategist who once supported the political wings of MAHA – an acronym for the Make America Healthy Again movement associated with Trump’s Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – and Turning Point USA, the powerful conservation organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk.
CLICK HERE TO STREAM THE LATEST FOX NEWS LIVE TUESDAY GAMES NATIONWIDE
Zach Lahn raises his fist in celebration after defeating his primary opponent in the Iowa GOP primary race on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Zach Lahn for Governor via Facebook)
In the GOP primary in South Carolina, the main rivals have been touting their support for Trump and his agenda in hopes of gaining his support.
Trump, after months of neutrality, endorsed Evette, hailing her as an “America First Patriot” and a “WINNER” in his announcement.
The president also made headlines for Evette by phone before the first day.
Hours later, on the morning of the elementary school, Evette again highlighted the president’s support for his campaign.
In a social media post, he wrote that Trump “needs a strong ally as Governor to deliver on our conservative America First agenda. That’s why he gave me his ‘full and complete endorsement.’ Don’t let President Trump down. Go to the polls, bring your friends and family, and VOTE FOR EVETTE!”
But Trump, in a social media post endorsing Evette, also said he expected Evette to choose Henry McMaster Jr., the governor’s son, as his running mate for governor.
The president’s comments led to backlash in South Carolina political circles and speculation that McMaster, who succeeded then-Gov. When Nikki Haley stepped down to serve as the UN ambassador during Trump’s first term and has been governor for 10 years, she was trying to give her son a political boost.
But McMaster has denied a deal or pressure, and Evette said she won’t name any running mates until after the first games.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, then-president Donald Trump and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette stands on stage during an election night viewing party at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia, SC, on Feb. 24, 2024. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
And on Friday, the younger McMaster withdrew his name from the race, saying it was “incredibly humbling” to be talked about as a possible gubernatorial candidate, but that “now is not the right time.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
Pointing to what he said was a smaller-than-expected turnout in Evette’s election, longtime South Carolina political strategist Dave Wilson told Fox News Digital that he thinks Trump’s endorsement “backfired” because of the president’s push for the younger McMaster to join Evette’s ticket.
“In South Carolina, we really don’t take it well when Washington tries to tell us what to do,” Wilson emphasized.
